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Album Review: Rites Of Hadda cut a path through the mundane with fourth LP release

By Sonny Tyler
Rites Of Hadda main by Rt Rev Legit

London Witchpunks unsheath their 'Inevitable Machete' and show it off to the masses!

Be sure to watch out for something interesting going on in the big smoke at the moment, because they go by the name of Rites Of Hadda. I first saw these in the early days atThe Cowley Club in Brighton, but since then, they have evolved into an anarcho-punk monster, that isn’t averse to giving us punk outsiders a metaphorical cuddle. At this year’s Grow Your Own Fest in Hastings, they truly tore the roof off, and decorated the interiors with rainbow- coloured wallpaper. I was looking forward to hearing their new album release on GYO Records, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

Rites Of Hadda - Wasperella - photo by Sonny Tyler
Rites Of Hadda - Wasperella - photo by Sonny Tyler
‘Inevitable Machete‘ is the band’s 4th album (their others being, ‘Witchpunk‘, ‘Horned God‘, and ‘Occult Sex Worker‘), but it’s their second one for this particular prolific South Coast label. Their previous albums established them on the UK Punk scene, and this one follows that winning trajectory. Fronted by the formidable Wasperella, this recording is raw and infectious (but in a good way, of course). The result of which, is the unique sound of anarcho-punk colliding with a free festival. 
 
Rites Of Hadda - photo by Mel Gordine-Tyler
Rites Of Hadda - photo by Mel Gordine-Tyler

Rites Of Hadda are :
Wasperella – Vocals
Simon Clarke – Sax & Synths
Pinswine – Guitar
Paul “Who’s Paul?” Maybin – Bass
Matthias Winter – Drums

The band rightfully describe themselves as “a mix of Queercore, Punk, Glam and Goth”, while blending in some activism along the way. What we have here is seven saxophone-driven songs (eight, if you purchase the CD or digital version) that will be sure to keep your attention for the spinning disc’s  duration. You can tell from the outset that this is a band tackling punk rock from a slightly different angle, and that feels like a breath of fresh air to me. Their songs are political, whilst also managing to be soul-searching and surreal.

‘Racist Bassist‘ is a song that needs little explanation, as the band decide that the person in question isn’t worth another verse. This is followed up by the catchy ‘Middle England, Mate‘ (where “dancing is banned”) and the speedier ‘Killer Profits (Tokitae)‘ to get our pulses truly racing.

‘Daemon Of Hate‘ is a confessional song and is also one of my favourites on this album. ‘Fuck Them‘ starts with the sound of a marching band’s lament, before defiantly ripping our heads from our shoulders and shouting punk rock into our detached earholes. It’s a song about being yourself, and also a big two fingers up to the powers that be, who set out to stifle us in this world. 

Rites Of Hadda at Rebellion 2024 - photo by Scott Bradley
Rites Of Hadda at Rebellion 2024 - photo © Scott Bradley
Fittingly, ‘Inevitable Machete‘ finishes with a song actually called ‘Lament‘, but if it’s the CD or digital release you have at your disposal, you will be treated to a special ‘Stay Up Forever‘ mix of a song that will have you reaching for your white gloves and glow sticks. “This album is for the outsiders, the witches, the weirdos, the resistors” says front-person Wasperella, “It’s a scream against the machine, but also a reminder that tongue-poking fun, fury and resistance go hand in hand”.  Wasperella describes the Rites Of Hadda ethos as being “A call to arms and a celebration of outsider identity” and I really couldn’t put it better myself. 
 
Out now, you can buy the ‘Inevitable Machete‘ from HERE
 
Watch the band spread their technicolor wings at the following gigs:
20/12/25 – Biddle Bros, Hackney, London
10/01/26 – Alma Inn, Bolton
16/01/26 – The Others, Stoke Newington, London
22/01/26 – Portland Arms, Cambridge
30/01/26 – Hope & Anchor, Islington, London
Rites Of Hadda Inevitable Machete album cover

Main Photo Credit: RT. REV. LEGIT

1. Is Ross Woodward A Faggot?
2. Racist Bassist
3. Middle England, Mate
4. Killer Profits (Tokitae)
5. Daemon Of Hate
6. Fuck Them
7. Lament

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